Sarfraz willing to correct Shabbir~~s action

Karachi:Pakistan's former Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz says he can help in correcting the bowling action of young fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed who has been reported by the International Cricket Council and is suspended from bowling by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Sarfraz, himself a quality pace bowler in his playing days, said on Thursday he was saddened to see Shabbir's plight.

"I worked with him some years back, specifically on his action and run-up and he adapted very well. I don't know why this new problem has cropped up. But if I am asked to help him out, I'm sure I would be able to do it again," he said.

Sarfraz, who returned home after a private vacation in England, also made an observing comment on the ongoing Ashes series.

He made some interesting comments about the fifth and final Test, to be staged at The Oval, tipping the home side to win the match for a number of reasons. "The Oval pitch at this time of the year normally becomes very slow and good for batting.

But it also develops dry patches due to which the ball gets old very quickly," Sarfraz noted. "England's advantage is that they've at least two bowlers particularly Simon Jones who swings the old ball reverse very well.

And with Australia having a number of natural stroke players I think England will hold the edge as the ball will have reverse swing with a low bounce," he added.

Sarfraz said England had done well mainly because their bowlers had used reverse swing very well. "I was amused to read praises in the newspapers about the English pace bowlers using the art of reverse swing so well.

My mind went back to the time when we first started this trend of reverse swing and we were called 'cheats'. How times has changed," he added.

Sarfraz also noted that with the England bowlers now learning to make the ball swing reverse, the ball they could also prove to be a handful in Pakistani conditions and pitches when they tour later this year.